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Mozilla Handing Out Free Firefox OS Developer Phones To Bolster App Marketplace

Posted by Soulskill on from the planting-the-seeds-of-openness dept.

MojoKid writes "Is the world really ready to shift from native apps to HTML5 Web apps? Probably not, at least not in North America yet, but developing nations may see it differently. That's the hope with Firefox OS, a web-based operating system that's (in theory) a lot more open. Of course, one needs only look at Microsoft's battle to get Windows Phone into a place of competition to realize that gaining market share is no easy task, which is why Mozilla will soon be handing out Firefox OS developer phones in order to bolster that. The company's goal is to get app builders to build for Firefox OS, so Mozilla is sending out free Preview handsets for folks to tinker with."

1 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. Dons fire retardant suit, then says ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I for one plan to use it just because it's not Apple or Google.

    Put simply:
    I like the idea of not having Apple or Google know every little fucking thing about my life.
    Where I am. What apps I use. Where I spend my money. What I browse. Who I call. Who I text. etc, etc.

    Oh, I know I will be attacked by the Apple & Google zealots, which is why I'm posting anonymously despite being an avid Slashdot member for many, many years.

    Some Q&A in anticipation:

    1. But Apple & Google don't give a rats about an insignificant person
    I don't give a toss -- I don't want to be a record in their database. It costs them nothing to record this information.

    2. But your ISP / telco knows just as much information. If not more!
    Not true, I often use a proxy.
    As for my telco: they know my call / text history, perhaps the sites I browse when I browse on my phone, but nothing else. Email is over secure connection.

    3. With a little effort, all this information can be gathered about you anyway
    Fine, but why should I make it easy on them?

    Ultimately, those who persecute me can continue to worship at the altar of Apple / Google. Just let me be.